Letters to the Editor

Nothing new under the sun

My friends and I have spent the last two weeks grieving for the victims in New York. But these feelings are not as new to me as they are to most of my American friends. I have felt the same way for much of the past 20 years. Being from Iran, the first time I experienced this sense of grief and loss was during the Iran-Iraq war. As a teenager in the 1980s, I cried equally for the Iraqi and Iranian victims of that war. As I grew older, other man-made tragedies elicited my empathy: the United States-Iraq war, the genocide in the Balkans, the plight of the Palestinians and so on.

Throughout it all, nothing depressed me more than the U.S. attack on Iraq. In this case, a whole country was bombed back into the preindustrial age. The infrastructure necessary to civilization was shattered and 9000 homes turned into "collateral damage." That destruction, combined with comprehensive economic sanctions that have prevented reconstruction, led to the death of over a million people. The United States justified its actions by citing the misdeeds of the Iraqi ruler, Saddam Hussein. However, the Iraqi people did not deserve punishment for the behavior of their ruler any more than the innocent Americans in the World Trade Center deserved punishment for the misdeeds of their government.

During the attack on Iraq, the American media simply regurgitated their government's rationalizations. So, while most Americans may not have been able to point to the Middle East on a map, they knew that the United States was defending human rights, freedom, democracy and decency. Flags were displayed widely. All were urged to "support our troops." There was considerable pride in how successfully Iraq was crushed and its troops wiped out. On the campus where I lived as an undergraduate, the mood was upbeat, even jovial. While I mourned, some of my friends literally partied. The last thing on anybody's mind was the Iraqis who perished.

A decade later, flags are ubiquitous again. This time, however, the mood is somber. There is dignified sympathy for the victims of the terrorist attack, and there are touching acts of kindness in the face of suffering. In moments of abandon, I imagine that this awakened empathy will permeate the artificial boundaries of national borders to engulf victims the world over. I imagine that the American people will prevent unjust policies and acts of brutality by their government abroad. But then realism sets in: I know the media will continue to uncritically present a rosy image of U.S. foreign policy. The public will take it on trust that their government does right. And I will grieve again. Behnam Sadeghi GS Department of Near Eastern Studies

Warfare is no answer

As a member of the Princeton Peace Network, I was deeply offended by Michael Frazer's column on Sept. 26. I was horrified by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, and I equally condemn all terrorism. However, I oppose a campaign of war and support a campaign seeking to bring the perpetrators to justice. We need to break the cycle of violence and retaliation for the simple reason that it is in our own best interest. Every innocent civilian that ends up as the "collateral damage" of a U.S. bomb will leave in her wake family and friends newly inclined to carry out terrorism against Americans. Where does it end? Spending the recently appropriated $40 billion to strengthen international institutions and begin to address poverty throughout the world would bring us more security than dropping every bomb in the arsenal. Peter Wolanin GS '94

Humility in appealing to God

In her letter "Only the presumptuous think God takes their side," Natalie Deffenbaugh '02 seems to miss the intention of utilizing religious allusions in political statements. Ms. Deffenbaugh claims that President Bush, as well as the American people, falsely believe that "a.) we are an omniscient nation with the power of the deity lending us strength, and b.) that we cannot find strength as a nation within our nation."

Minting "In God we Trust" on our national currency is not a statement that all Americans embrace the Judeo-Christian God. It does not claim collective submission to a "deity lending us strength" for the purpose of elevating the power of our nation. Instead, this reference is a reminder that we are merely human. It does not suggest that as a nation we are presumptuous and consider ourselves equal with God. While publicly thanking God does indeed go over well with voters, from politics to awards shows, this is certainly not why we exclaim "God bless America" — particularly during times of trial. Rather, exclamations of "God bless America" and invocations by politicians to pray during this time of national crisis serve as a reminder that we are neither invincible nor omniscient. It is a reminder that we are a country in need of appreciation for something greater than ourselves. One of the most powerful results of the terrorist attacks has been the wake-up call to Americans that we are not immune to the fear and danger viewed as symptoms of the rest of the world. With this realization comes an overwhelming sense of human perspective, of how fragile we truly are. This is exactly how we "find strength as a nation within a nation" — by recognizing that we are not omnipotent and that we must band together as a nation to overcome our limitations.

Finally, the power and importance of religion and prayer should not be so definitively discounted or underestimated. When human beings realize their distinct vulnerability, they might find hope in something transcendental. So while Ms. Deffenbaugh issues a call for "religiously charged language" to be "excluded from all public statements," in order that we might focus on preserving "freedom, equality and security," I would call for something else. Rather than allowing the American people to become overwhelmed by fear during crisis and rather than allowing the American people to rest in safe complacency during peace, may President Bush and all members of this American nation never forget their human vulnerability and the potential hope in a strength greater than our individual selves. Nancy Ippolito '03

Job opportunities not so bleak

In yesterday's 'Prince' article, "Depressed markets sour senior hopes for employment," several statements attributed to me are inaccurate, paint a much more dire picture than perhaps is necessary or are somewhat out of context. First and foremost, I did not state that we expect the number of rescinded offers and employment deferrals to increase this year. In fact, I indicated that employers will likely be more deliberate in their hiring processes precisely to avoid having to do that — it is bad for their image and future recruiting strategy to have to take away job offers just as it is equally bad for a student to accept offers then renege. It is important to understand that Career Services is very involved with students and employers to discourage the practice of rescinding or reneging on offers.

Secondly, those companies that cancelled or postponed information sessions in mid-September were doing so in direct response to the events of Sept. 11. Actually, there are more than just "many companies still hiring." We have over 60 organizations coming to the Oct. 5 Career Fair in Dillon Gym, including law firms, government agencies, marketing positions, consulting and financial services firms. Additionally, there are over 200 full-time jobs currently available via on-campus recruiting, but students have to apply in order to be considered for these jobs.

According to a recent survey of employers by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 70 percent of employers expect to maintain or even increase their hiring levels compared to last year. Some sectors hardest hit by the economy — such as telecommunications and manufacturing — may have scaled back hiring projections, but government and non-profit hiring projections show that close to 56 percent plan to increase hiring this year. All the jobs are not gone; you may just have to give attention to where and how you look. Networking with alumni, contacting companies directly, attending career fairs — these are all proactive strategies to get you connected with prospects. Counselors in our office are available to assist you as you make your plans. Becky Ross Associate Director, Career Services